Systems and methods for rule-based virtual machine data protection

Abstract

A data storage system backs up or protects virtual machines. For instance, the system identifies the different virtual machines executing in the system and provides a number of factors that can be used to create a backup policy. The system further creates specific rules for virtual machine backup policies using a user interface with drop down boxes of relevant criteria and Boolean operators. A preview of included virtual machines allows the rule to be refined. Particular virtual machines can be excluded during the preview. The system further dynamically updates the list of virtual machines satisfying the rules at time of backup.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to protect virtual machine data in a data management system, the method comprising:
 automatically gathering with one or more computer processors criteria associated with one or more virtual machines in a data management system;   creating a rule for a virtual machine backup policy using a user interface, the criteria, and one or more logical operators;   automatically generating with one or more computer processors a list of virtual machines based on the rule;   revising the rule based at least in part on the list;   automatically applying with one or more computer processors a storage policy associated with the rule to each virtual machine on the list; and   dynamically updating with one or more computer processors the list of virtual machines satisfying the rule at time of backup.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein automatically gathering comprises:
 automatically querying with one or more computer processors virtual navigation software for one or more hosts and data stores associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system; 
 automatically receiving from one or more computer processors the one or more hosts and data stores associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system; 
 automatically querying with one or more computer processors virtual management software for one or more operating systems and guest DNS hostnames associated with each host; and 
 automatically receiving from one or more computer processors the one or more operating systems and guest DNS hostnames associated with each host. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the criteria comprises one or more hosts and data stores associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system and one or more operating systems and guest DNS hostnames associated with each host. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user interface comprises one or more drop down menus, the one or more drop down menus comprising selections based on the criteria and selections of Boolean operators. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein revising the rule based at least in part on the list comprises revising the rule based at least in part on a number of virtual machines on the list. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein revising the rule comprises excluding specific virtual machines from the list. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising automatically associating with one or more computer processors the rule with the storage policy, the storage policy comprising scheduling and a storage location for backed up data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising automatically sending with one or more computer processors the list of virtual machines to a storage manager for backup. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein dynamically updating the list comprises:
 at the time of backup, automatically gathering with one or more computer processors the criteria associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system; 
 automatically generating with one or more computer processors the list of virtual machines based on the rule and the criteria gathered at the time of backup; and 
 automatically applying with one or more computer processors the storage policy associated with the rule to each virtual machine on the list, each virtual machine on the list having criteria gathered at the time of backup and satisfying the rule. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising backing up the virtual machines on the list according to the storage policy associated with the rule. 
     
     
         11 . A system to gather criteria for rule-based virtual machine data protection in an information management cell, the system comprising:
 computer hardware including one or more computer processors; and   computer-readable storage comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the computer hardware to perform operations defined by the computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions configured to:
 automatically gather criteria associated with one or more virtual machines in a data management system; 
 create a rule for a virtual machine backup policy using a user interface, the criteria, and one or more logical operators; 
 automatically generate a list of virtual machines based on the rule; 
 revise the rule based at least in part on the list; 
 automatically apply a storage policy associated with the rule to each virtual machine on the list; and 
 dynamically update the list of virtual machines satisfying the rule at time of backup. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein automatically gather comprises:
 automatically query virtual navigation software for one or more hosts and data stores associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system; 
 automatically receive the one or more hosts and data stores associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system; 
 automatically query virtual management software for one or more operating systems and guest DNS hostnames associated with each host; and 
 automatically receive the one or more operating systems and guest DNS hostnames associated with each host. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the criteria comprises one or more hosts and data stores associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system and one or more operating systems and guest DNS hostnames associated with each host. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the user interface comprises one or more drop down menus, the one or more drop down menus comprising selections based on the criteria and selections of Boolean operators. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein revising the rule based at least in part on the list comprises revising the rule based at least in part on a number of virtual machines on the list. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein revising the rule comprises excluding specific virtual machines from the list. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise automatically associating the rule with the storage policy, the storage policy comprising scheduling and a storage location for backed up data. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise automatically sending the list of virtual machines to a storage manager for backup. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11  wherein dynamically updating the list comprises:
 at the time of backup, automatically gathering the criteria associated with the one or more virtual machines in the data management system; 
 automatically generating the list of virtual machines based on the rule and the criteria gathered at the time of backup; and 
 automatically applying the storage policy associated with the rule to each virtual machine on the list, each virtual machine on the list having criteria gathered at the time of backup and satisfying the rule. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise backing up the virtual machines on the list according to the storage policy associated with the rule.